So maybe the answer is that a little worry is just fine. It helps us prepare for the future. But we all probably know when we’re worrying too much. If it’s affecting your health and your relationships it’s time to cut back.

But how do you do that?

Here are some tips.

1. Postpone It

Research has found that suppressing negative thoughts does not work. Yet that’s what we often try to do.

A better approach is something similar, though.

That is setting aside time to worry.

That’s right, if you worry often it can be beneficial to schedule time to worry. Perhaps 30 minutes at the end of each workday.

This way if you get a negative thought right before bed you can “set the thought aside” until tomorrow’s worry period.

Over time, you build the habit of worrying at specific times. It can improve your sleep and your overall well being. You’re not suppressing. You’re dealing with things, but not letting them affect you so urgently.

You’ll probably find that the things that aren’t really important will be forgotten while important things will still be dealt with.

2. 10-Minute Meditation/Mindfulness

More and more research is showing that short, but regular spurts of meditation or mindfulness can do a lot of good. This includes reducing worry and anxiety.

There are so many distractions today. We kind of lose touch with what’s happening in the present to ourselves. Mindfulness allows us to remain in the present and it apparently helps us to worry less. At least in the short-term.